So, that must mean that 21... Qh5 was the losing move.

21...Qg4 looks better, making 22 Bc3 impossible.

click for larger view

Case I:(Black did not move his bishop or take the bishop) 23. Bf6 Qf5 24. Bxe7 Rxe7 25. Rxe7 wins the Rook

Case II:(Bishop moves back)
23. Bf6 Bd8?? 24. Rxe8#

Case III:(Black takes the Bishop)
23. Bf6 Bxf6 24. Rxe8+ Kg7 25. Qxd6 Kh6 26. Qxf6 wins material

You are right of course - if it a question of choosing a defensive line that leads to mate versus a defensive line that doesn't lead to mate, then who wouldn't pick the one that does not lead to mate?

But the question is different if it is posed liked this: "there is a defensive line that does not lead to mate but choose it and you end up with a disadvantage" versus "there is a defensive line that leads to mate but if the opponent misses the best line of play then you end up with an advantage."

In that case, some people at least will opt for the latter.

In evaluating the merits of the exchange sac, I thought more about what white could do if black made the "obvious" replies instead of what white would do if black made the less obvious replies. This is not a knock on you <TheaN> because you and <johnlspouge> (as far as I can tell) are the two kibitzers who consistently present the most analysis on these puzzles. (Apologies to anyone slighted by this comment - I know lots of people work hard on these.)

I didn't really think about Be6 on move 23 (and I am not sure if I needed to all that much) but I did think about it on move 24. I didn't write anything down about it because I figured "if this is the best that black can come up with, then it is still worthwhile to play the exchange sac, especially since white is down material in the initial position." Well I didn't really phrase it like that to myself but that is the general idea.

<RV> indicates White has it won after 22. Bc3! So, I'm thinking maybe 21...Qg4! = is Black's last chance to hold.

In my County (Ventura) we had a nasty 4.2 earthquake at 1:30 PDT today. We have uncontrolled wildfires raging in the next County over, (Santa Barbara) 35 miles away.

White to play (23.?) "Difficult"

I didn't find this one too difficult for a Friday.

Material: White is down two pawns, but is ahead in development and has more active pieces and the initiative.

Candidate moves: Qxd6, Rxe7 - I knew it had to be one of these!

23. Qxd6 is a nice try, but it fails badly to 23...Be6! and now White has nothing better than 24. Qd3.

23. Rxe7! is the right move, weakening the black squares and specifically the a1-h8 diagonal. The goal is to get the queen to g7 or h8.

23...Rxe7 24. Qxd6 (threatening both Qf6 and Qd8+, besides Qxe7) and now:

A) 24...Re8 25. Bxf7+ Kxf7 26. Qf6+ Kg8 27. Qg7 mate.

B) 24...Be6 25. Qxe7 Bxc4 26. Re1! (26. Qf6 Kf8 27. Re1 Be2 28. Qh8+ Ke7 29. Qxa8 also wins) and Black has no defense to the threats of Qe8+ and Qf6, i.e. 26...Be6 27. Rxe6, or 26...Rf8 27. Qf6 or 26...Be2 27. Rxe2.

<patzer2> The tremor was relatively mild, but the epicenter was only 20 miles from my town. Makes one on edge.

The fire, though, is still causing a lot of problems. Still only 10% contained. Here's a good link below, to those interested.

"I cut the rich a giant tax loophole
"and leave the poor living in a poop hole

The current rate is 9.25%. It will increase to 9.75% on July 1 because of recent voter approval of Measure R, which will fund transportation improvements.

Sales taxes are high because property taxes are held artificially low due to the passage of Prop 13 in 1978.

Overall, California state finances are in shambles. The state has a projected $40 billion dollar deficit over the next 16 months. Five Propositions are on the ballot next week (May 19) to help close thie deficit.

All are currently projected to fail. After that, all bets are off. Stay tuned.